I’m so happy today because I get to introduce you to my very good friend… Heather Filipowicz from Sassy Inspiration.
Heather Filipowicz is a coach, writer, speaker and yoga teacher who is hell-bent on inspiring women to chase after the life in their dreams, not the life of their ‘shoulds’. After 15 years as a non-profit executive, she chased after her dreams by moving 1,200 miles, quitting her job and launched her blog. She lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband and son and vows to never wear a business suit again, while forever rocking her curly hair.
Make sure you check out Heather’s free Facebook group “Dream Chaser Community” or grab the Sassy Inspiration Dream Chaser Reading list and join her Sassy Sunday Email list.
Today, Heather is gonna run through 5 different strategies that will help you get your mind in the right place so you can start chasing down your dreams. This is what I want to help you do… And so does Heather.
So, I’ll leave you in Heather’s very capable hands…
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You’ve had the a-ha. The business idea is there. You know where in the world you want to work. You can even label yourself as a Digital Nomad entrepreneur in your mind. Your pulse quickens every time you think about it, and yet there’s the doubts that set in right away.
Where do I even start?
How is this going to be possible?
Will people even care about this?
What will people think?
Will I ever be able to make enough money/reach enough people/be like (insert name of someone you think is awesome at what you want to accomplish) because of (insert self-criticism)?
Do any of these sound familiar to you?
Every single person that I have coached has said those statements, and many more, as soon as the dream that they want comes to their mind.
They’ve finally realized, and accepted, that the ‘crazy’ dream that they have is worthy of their effort and if they aren’t careful, they’ll be stopped in their tracks before they even get started.
I believe, and know, that every single person has a dream on their heart and in their minds. When we don’t take deliberate steps that act like a catalyst to jumpstart the dream becoming reality is when we cut ourselves short before even getting started.
That dream you have- it matters.
It matters more than any crappy self-defeating one-liners that you can feed it in your mind. Fear hates action, so before fear wins and stops you in your tracks before you even get started, I want to share 5 strategies that will jumpstart your dream chasing adventure and get you well on your way to the business, and lifestyle, of your dreams.
First and Foremost, Write It Down
Seems simple enough, right? Writing down your dream seems simple but the reality is that the majority of people will not take this action step. Once you write it down, it becomes real. You give it energy. It comes alive. Write it down on a piece of paper with your hand. Not on a laptop. Not on social media. Just for you.
When my husband and I realized that we wanted to live the life of our dreams and move away from the place, and life, that we had built and were ‘supposed’ to love- the first thing we did was write it down.
As we looked for jobs and homes in Florida the first thing I did was write down what I wanted and posted a map of Florida on the wall above my desk in my home office. I looked at it every day. No one else knew it was there but me and my husband. When the doubts crept in, I could literally see the promise that I had made to myself every single day and right now I’m writing this on my laptop, in my home, in Tampa, Florida.
Seeing your dream in your own handwriting on a piece of paper is a snapshot in your mind and memory that you won’t soon forget.
See It Clearly
I’m a yoga teacher, so I’m gonna get a little ‘woo-woo’ on you. Your mind is super powerful. It will play a major role in helping to guide, support, encourage and believe in you. If you use it right. It can also try like hell to derail you, fool you into thinking that you and your dream are crazy and not worthy of any of it. In order to make your mind your greatest asset right from the start, you need to start training it right.
Give yourself a block of about 30 minutes. Go to a place that is quiet and that you enjoy. This could be the beach, a park, a forest or a heavenly bubble bath. Your dream, your choice.
Take 5 minutes to take some deep breaths, eyes closed and settling into your mind and body. Now, like a movie in your mind, start to see your dream. REALLY see it.
What does it look like?
Where are you?
Who is there?
What are the sensations that you’re experiencing physically in your body as you see this ‘movie’ play out?
Get as detailed as you can because your mind will remember this moment. This movie is being recorded for you to play back over and over again- just for you. Going forward make it a daily habit of revisiting this movie in your mind and playing it back. You’re now using your mind to help make your dream a reality. Don’t judge it, just playback the mental movie that you created.
Face the Fears
It’s better to get this out of the way before you even get going. Fears. They’re all part of the process and are totally normal to have. In order to take the power away from them, you need to get them out of your head as soon as possible.
Write down every single fear that you have when it comes to going after your dream. Every. Single. One. Don’t judge, just write. Worried you’re going to go broke and become homeless? Write it down. Scared that you’ll make so much money that you won’t know how to spend it? Write it down. Worried about what people will think about you and your dream? Write it down.
Now, read the list over one more time for good measure. Acknowledge that the fears exist and yet your heart, and actions, will work like hell to overcome these fears when they creep up.
Now you have two options, you can keep the list and seal it in an envelope to save and read later on once your dream is achieved or you can burn the piece of paper and release them. Your choice. Remember that the determination of your heart and spirit are stronger than any fear that you can throw at your dream. Take the power back.
Tell One Person
This is a big moment and one that should be approached with strategy and heart. It’s time to tell one person about your dream, but not just anyone. I’m also going to urge you not to post anything to social media. I’m with Brene Brown when she says that people need to earn the right to know our truths.
It’s time to tell someone what our dream is. This isn’t about brainstorming, criticism, partnerships or advice. This is the simple act of entrusting another human being with the beauty of knowing that you are sharing something so special, and sacred and that they’re the only one who knows.
There will come a day that you will be ready to announce it to many but at this stage in the process, your dream is tender and a beautiful piece of yourself that needs to be treasured. Select someone that you feel you can trust your dream with.
You may want to start the conversation explaining that you’re not looking to break it down and dissect it but simply to share a truth with this person because of who they are in your life. Part of the beauty of this gift is that you also ask them not to share it with anyone else.
Remember this moment because this is when you share a bit of your heart with someone else and give your dream flight.
List 5 Action Steps
We’ve tackled the dream, the mind, the fears and sharing. Now you’re ready to start taking some action. In the beginning of chasing after your dream, it’s important to ensure that your actions are done in smaller chunks in order to ensure that you gain confidence, start actually doing things towards making your dream a reality, all while getting stuff done.
Yes, where to start can be overwhelming which is why we’re only going to take it in chunks of five. Depending on what you focus on, your actions will be determined that way.
Ready to start a business? Maybe start by researching others in your field of interest, possible names, listing out your mission and business idea.
Ready to look into locations to take your nomad dreaming self? You could start researching locations, costs, currency conversions, internet access, costs of living or timezone conversions.
These action steps can be broad but there’s power in breaking the task down into smaller, more narrow and focused tasks. Keep a list and cross them off. There’s magic is crossing tasks off a list for our achievement loving selves to make us feel motivated.
Once you’ve crossed five off, create the next five. And on and on. By taking consistent action, your dream is taking on momentum like a ball rolling down a hill. When the bumps come, and they will, the momentum of action can help carry you and your dream through to the other side.
This list of 5 strategies may seem simple, yet I’ve seen how profound and powerful they can be in my own life and in the lives of the women that I have the honor of working with. It is my dream to see more women, and men, living the life of their dreams not the life of their ‘shoulds’.
That dream you have is real. It is yours and yours alone. You only get one chance at this thing called life and you might as well make it the best possible adventure for you and your life. It starts with listening to your heart, dreams and bringing it to life one thought and one action at a time.
